BOARD OF EDUCATION

MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK

AUGUST 14, 2004

A special meeting of the Board of Education of the Enlarged City School District of Middletown, New York was held Saturday, August 14, 2004, at Orange-Ulster BOCES, Board President Vincent Crescenzo, presiding. 

Present: Dr. Best, Mr. Estrada, Mrs. Knapp (left at 4:20 p.m.), Mrs. Botti, 

Mr. Crescenzo – 5. 

Absent: Mr. Geiger (arrived at 9:11 a.m.), Mr. Perrino (arrived at 9:15 a.m.; left at 3:45 p.m.)), Ms. Tobiassen (arrived at 9:50 a.m.) – 3.

Others      Kenneth W. Eastwood, Superintendent
Present:   Dr. Douglas Harris, Center for Curriculum Renewal

Mr. Crescenzo opened the meeting at 9:00 a.m. He said that this special meeting was called for continued discussion of Board/Superintendent relations and to begin to establish short and long range goals and objectives for the development of the District.

Dr. Harris facilitated a discussion to assist in the planning of a framework for the next year and for the next three-five years. Topics included where the District should focus its efforts and resources, how plans can be organized to show the interdependencies among key objectives, effective communication to external constituencies, effective communication to staff to enable them to align their works goals and resources, and determining the most important objectives and priorities to translate into performance indicators for Board level tracking.

At 9:55 a.m., Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mrs. Knapp, to have an executive session for the discussion of Board/Superintendent relations. Motion was unanimously approved.

Public session resumed at 11:05 a.m.

Dr. Harris and the Board worked through a Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis to help determine the goals and objectives of the District for 2004-05. The Board developed the following goals, with supporting objectives and performance indicators: improve student performance within the Middletown School District; become more systematic in program planning, development, implementation and evaluation; review and make recommendations relative to policies and procedures related to staff performance; develop a financial plan that is responsive to the fiscal and educational needs of the Middletown School District; develop a cohesive Board of Education that is sensitive to and responsive to the mission and to the various constituencies of the Middletown School District.

The Board reviewed and modified the rules under which the Board of Education operates. These norms are agreed upon guidelines that the Board commits to use while acting together as a body. They also establish the working conditions of the individuals and the group. 

The Board concluded by considering several drafts of the District’s Mission Statement. It was agreed that the statement will be revised to incorporate phrasing regarding fiscal responsibility and enabling students to become competitive members of society. The first reading of the revised Mission Statement will be presented at the Board’s meeting of September 9.

At 6:00 p.m., Mrs. Botti made a motion, seconded by Mr. Estrada, to conclude this special meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Alicia E. Olsen

School District Clerk